New sculpture of celebrated actor Uttam Kumar in Kolkata draws flak from artists

Artists in West Bengal have expressed strong disapproval over a recently unveiled statue of the late Bengali cinema icon, Uttam Kumar, in Keoratala Crematorium, Kolkata. The Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, inaugurated the statue on July 24, the 47th death anniversary of the superstar. Artists have criticized the statue for its lack of resemblance to Uttam Kumar and its overall appearance, deeming it "ugly."

Sanatan Dinda, a senior artist and sculptor, stated that the statue represents a degradation of artistic standards in the city, as it indicates that artists are now just "politician's puppets" and that artwork through tenders is absurd. The senior artist also claimed that artists, who are often underpaid and work under tight deadlines, were not consulted in the commissioning of the statue.

Opposition political parties, including the Trinamool Congress, have also criticized the move. Kunal Ghosh, a TMC MLA, urged the government to replace the statue with a better one. The only other prominent sculpture of Uttam Kumar in the city, located in Tollygunge, was inaugurated in 1993 and received praise for its quality. The recent controversy echoes similar cases of poorly received artwork during the Bharatiya Janta Party's rule in Bengal, such as a low-quality sculpture removed outside Salt Lake Stadium.